Trapped Securement Strap for a Load Carrier

ABSTRACT

A device for removably securing an article having an elongate section to a portable frame used for transporting the article on a vehicle. The device includes an elongate structure with a floor and sidewalls extending above the floor to form an open channel with the sidewalls including at least one slot parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor. Part of the device is a conformable strap, having a first side opposite a second side, an insertable end and an enlarged end separated from the insertable end by a length of flexible material, the conformable strap having a plurality of binding elements on the first side and a plurality of contact elements disposed on the second side of the strap at the insertable end. The strap passes through a sidewall slot such that the insertable end and the length of flexible material lie adjacent to the outer surface of the elongate structure with the enlarged end restricted in at least one slot formed in the sidewall of the elongate structure, the enlarged end being sized to exceed the dimensions of the slot.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation patent application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/650,716 filed Aug. 30, 2000, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 6,513,691, and which is a continuation patent applicationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/537,783 filed Mar. 29, 2000 whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/126,667 filedMar. 29, 1999. Said applications are hereby expressly incorporated byreference into the present application in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a load carriers usedin the transportation of articles such as sport equipment pieces, andmore specifically to a releasably securable binding device for securinga portion of an article such as a bicycle to the load carrier framewhich is typically configured to be mounted on a transporting vehicle.

[0004]2. Background Art

[0005] Transportation of equipment, especially sports equipment, such asone or more bicycles, often involves the use of a portable load carrierframe attached at a hitch mount to the rear of a carrying vehicle. Withadvancements in design and related cost escalations for sportsequipment, such as lightweight racing bicycles or ruggedly builtmountain bikes, the security of attachment of these objects to a carrierframe has become a primary ownership consideration. The possibility ofdetachment of an expensive bicycle from a load carrier increases whenthe carrying vehicle travels over rough terrain. Any potential weaknessassociated with the means utilized to secure equipment to the loadcarrier frame could result in damage to the equipment either by fallingfrom the frame or becoming sufficiently loose to collide with the frameor the carrying vehicle. Obviously, the securement of the sportsequipment to the load carrier is of utmost importance to the operator,but ease of use is also an important consideration in the mind of theconsumer.

[0006] It is known to use flexible securement straps adhesively bondedto a receiving cradle of a load carrier frame. Such straps represent asimple, low cost option for equipment attachment. Such straps areintended to be wrapped around a portion of the equipment and thensecured until intentionally released. Over a period of time, theadhesive used to attach the such straps to the load carrier ages and maybecome brittle enough for bond failure to occur between the strap andthe cradle. Also, repeated use of an adhesively bonded strap to secureand remove equipment from a carrier frame can result in weakening ofthis bond. If this occurs, the strap will no longer be effective forsecuring the equipment to the carrier frame and this can lead to damage,possibly severe, to the carried sports equipment.

[0007] In view of the above described deficiencies associated with theuse of known designs for equipment binding and securement devices, thepresent invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks andprovide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefitsare described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to severalalternative embodiments of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] The present invention, in its several disclosed embodiments,alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to conventionallydesigned binding devices and incorporates several additionallybeneficial features.

[0009] A binding or securement device constructed according to thepresent invention includes a recessed support tray or bracket and aconformable securement strap that has several design features includedthat reduce down to two the actual number of parts required for such abinding device or securement strap to perform appropriately. Theconformable strap may be formed from a flexible material such as fabric,rubber or plastic that has sufficient strength and resiliency to bindand secure an article placed in the recessed tray or channeled supportbracket. Preferably the conformable strap comprises a soft flexiblewebbing or belting material to bind a secured article without scratchingor otherwise damaging the article.

[0010] One end of the flexible strap is tapered for easy insertion andpassage through a slot formed in a sidewall of the support bracket. Thistapered end may be referred to as the insertable end of the strap. Thesurfaces on either side of the insertable end have differingcharacteristics. One surface is essentially planar while the othersurface is at least partially covered with releasable securement memberssuch as one component of a hookconnector.

[0011] The opposite end of the strap from the insertable end has aconfiguration providing a segment of greater thickness than otherportions of the strap which are otherwise of essentially uniformthickness. Increasing the thickness of this end section provides aenlarged and impassable end of the conformable strap. In one embodimentof the invention the thickened or enlarged end may be formed by simplyfolding and securing an end section of the strap upon itself to providean enlarged end having at least twice the thickness of the oppositeinsertable end of the strap.

[0012] Another embodiment includes a wedge profile increasing inthickness towards the extremity of the enlarged end of the conformablestrap opposite the insertable end. Yet another embodiment includes atleast one transverse extension projecting from one or both of the sidesor edges at the enlarged end. Other forms of increasing the thickness ofthe enlarged end may be used, provided that features of this enlargedend cause interference with the slot formed in the sidewall of thesupport bracket to prevent the enlarged end from passing through theslot.

[0013] Between the insertable end and the enlarged end of theconformable strap lies a length of flexible material sufficient to bewrapped around the recessed support bracket; preferably, the length ofthe strap is sufficient that several wraps about the bracket arepossible for added security. At least one of the surfaces of the lengthof flexible material is predominantly covered with releasable securementmembers such as one component of a hookconnector. This type of coveringis preferably formed on the side of the length of flexible materialopposite the side supporting the projections associated with theinsertable end of the conformable strap. The relative positioningbetween the mating components of the releasable securement members ofthe hookconnector causes their proper face-to-face orientation when thestrap is appropriately wrapped about the support bracket and ultimatelyupon itself. Under application of some engaging pressure by theoperator, the two matingly engageable components of the exemplaryhookconnector are releasably interlocked to secure the insertable andloose end of the strap to another portion of the length of flexiblematerial.

[0014] The simplicity of the two part binding device of the presentinvention allows quick securement and release of objects to and from thesupport bracket. Such objects have suitable size to initially fit in therecess or channel of the support bracket and be held therein byoverlapping the object with the conformable strap which is ultimatelyfastened upon itself by engagement of the releasable securementcomponents. The addition of tension into the strap by an operator forthe purpose of increasing the securement characteristic of the strapover an article to be secured results from catching the enlarged end ofthe conformable strap within a slot cut in the support bracket andpulling tightly on the free distal end. This is achieved by threadingthe insertable end of the strap into the slot in the sidewall of thesupport bracket and drawing the strap through the slot until preventionof further relative movement is caused by the impingement of the thickerenlarged end of the strap against the bracket about the slot. Thisanchors the enlarged end of the strap to the support bracket so that itmay be stretched and pulled tight as it is wrapped around an objectthereby increasing tension within the strap and resultingly thesecurement force of the strap upon the object, such as a bicycle to besecured upon a load carrier. When using releasable hookconnectorassemblies, release of the strap simply involves operator separation ofthe opposed interlocking surfaces.

[0015] Since the support bracket typically comprises a rigid material,objects held within the binding clamp of the invention may be subject toscratching or denting. Attachment of a buffering lining inside thebracket prevents such undesirable occurrences. As illustrated, thisbuffering element may be provided in the form of a rubber matting whichis maintained between the support bracket and the carried item, such asa bicycle.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the formof a device for removably securing an article, having a elongatesection, to a portable frame or load carrier designed to be connectedupon a transporting vehicle. The device includes an elongate supportstructure having an inner surface and an outer surface and oppositedistal ends. The support structure has a floor and sidewalls that extendabove the floor to form a channel open at the two distal ends thereof.The sidewalls include at least one slot cut therethrough and orientedparallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor. A conformable strap isalso utilized that has a first and second side surfaces, an insertableend and an enlarged end separated from the insertable end by amid-section composed of a length of flexible strap material. Theconformable strap has a plurality of binding elements on the first sideand a plurality of contact elements disposed on the second side of thestrap at the insertable end. In a preferred embodiment, these bindingand contact elements take the form of releasable securement members suchas engageable components of a hookconnector assembly.

[0017] In use, the strap is passed through the slot from an interiorregion of the support structure so that the insertable end and amajority of the length of the flexible strap are positioned exteriorlyto the outer surface of the elongate structure and the enlarged end ofthe strap is abutting the area of the support about the slot since theenlarged end of the strap is sized to exceed the dimensions of the slotand resist passage therethrough.

[0018] As used herein the term support bracket may also be described asan elongate structure or a bracket or cradle or brace. The term bindingdevice may be replaced by the term binding clamp. Further, the termprojection or projections may be replaced by the words contact elements.Still further, it should be appreciated that the invention may becharacterized as only including the flexible strap and its constituentcomponents, with the support structure with which such a strapcooperates being an optional additional component.

[0019] The beneficial effects described above apply generally to theexemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein for a releasablesecurement device. The specific structures through which these benefitsare delivered will be described in detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will now be described in greater detail in thefollowing way of example only and with reference to the attacheddrawings, in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a support bracket of theinvention mounted on a portable frame such as a load carrier for sportsequipment like bicycles.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing first and second supportbrackets mounted on a portable frame.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conformable strap of theinvention and its position relative to a support bracket mounted on aportable frame.

[0024]FIGS. 4a and 4 b provide similar cross sectional views taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing attachment of a conformable strap to abracket of the invention.

[0025]FIGS. 5a, 5 b and 5 c show perspective views of the conformablestrap of the invention, progressing from an open condition to a fastenedcondition.

[0026]FIG. 6 shows a suitable object secured, by the binding device ofthe invention, to a portable frame.

[0027]FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a cushioning insert for asupport bracket of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view revealing the underside of the linerof FIG. 7.

[0029]FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of the insert as viewed alongline 9-9 of FIG. 8.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a support bracket, viewed from above,showing slots suitable for attaching an insert to the bracket.

[0031]FIG. 11 is a perspective partial view including a cushioninginsert inside a support bracket according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention aredisclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodiedin various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily toscale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details ofparticular components. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention.

[0033] Referring to the Figures and using like reference numerals toidentify like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 includes aportable frame 10 with a recessed, generally u-shaped support bracket 12that is attached to the frame 10. The portable frame may be used toconnect the support bracket 12 to a suitable vehicle. The bracket 12includes a floor 14 and sidewalls 16,18 with at least one slot 20 ineach sidewall 16,18. Optionally, the bracket 12, may have one or moreopenings 22 formed in the floor 14 of the bracket 12 to receive aprotective insert.

[0034]FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the additionof a second bracket 13 in accordance with the present invention which isalso attached to the portable frame 10 indicating that the load carrieror transportation frame may be designed to carry multiple objectssecured upon the brackets 12,13. In one particularly preferredembodiment, the load carrier is designed to be mounted upon atransporting vehicle and to receive one or more pieces of sportsequipment, especially in the form of bicycles.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows a conformable strap 30 that has been inserted throughslots 20,32 formed in the sidewalls 16,18 of a bracket 12. Afterwrapping the conformable strap 30 around the support bracket 12 andpartially around itself, the strap 30 may be releasably secured uponitself to maintain such a wrapped configuration about the bracket 12 andany carried article secured thereby. Additional details of thepositioning of the conformable strap 30 are clear through reference toFIG. 4a, FIG. 4b, and FIGS. 5a through 5 c. FIG. 4a and FIG. 4brepresent similar cross-sectional views, both of which are taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3. The difference between FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b is thepositioning of the conformable strap 30 relative to the slots 20,32formed in the sidewallsof the bracket 12. FIGS. 5a through 5 c providedetail views of the conformable strap 30 of the invention and theattributes of the strap 30 used in attaching it to a support bracket 12.Thereafter, the strap 30 is available for securing articles such asbicycles to the bracket 12 and retaining those articles securelythereupon utilizing the releasable securement members that preferablytake the form of engageable hookconnectors.

[0036] In the various views relating to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it is seenthat the conformable strap 30 includes an insertable end 52 and anenlarged end 54. In the preferred embodiment and that which isillustrated, the enlarged end 54 is produced by doubling or folding aportion of the strap 30 upon itself and unifying those folded portionsby, for example, sewing the portions together in the case where webbedbelting is used for the construction of the strap 30. In this manner,the enlarged portion is formed to be approximately twice the thicknessof the balance of the strap 30. This low cost method of increasing thethickness of the strap 30 provides an effective way to check passage ofthe conformable strap 30 through a slot in the bracket 12. This simplesewn fold is as effective at limiting passage of that portion throughthe slots of the support as other more extravagantly formed thickeningprocedures that require the addition of extraneous material to the strapduring manufacture. Additional production steps represent undesirableincreased costs for part production and are therefore avoided. Also,because the fold is integrally formed with the rest of the strap, thereis no weakness at the junction between the enlarged end 54 and theflexible material 60. Thus, the combination of the conformable strap 30and the support bracket 12 provides an improved binding clamp thatrenders cost savings without weakening the binding element, i.e. theconformable strap 30.

[0037]FIG. 4 provides detail of two alternatives for attaching theconformable strap 30 to the support bracket 12 using a variable numberof slots 20,32. The embodiment of FIG. 4a uses slots 20,32 formed inopposing side-walls of a support bracket 12. In this case, threading ofthe conformable strap 30 through the slots 20,34 begins by positioningthe insertable end 52 outside the bracket before passing it through afirst sidewall slot 20, across the width of the channel and through asecond slot 32 in the opposite sidewall 18. The remainder of the strap30 may then be drawn through the first and second sidewall slots 20,32until the enlarged end 54 catches against the slot 20 which, beingsmaller in size, prevents further movement of either the enlarged end 54or other parts of the conformable strap 30. The length of strap 30outside of the bracket 12 may be wrapped upon itself and then held in awrapped condition utilizing interlocking projections 56 found on theinsertable end 52 and binding elements 58 found on the flexible material60.

[0038]FIG. 4b discloses a second embodiment of a binding clampconstructed according to the present invention showing the enlarged end54 of the conformable strap 30 retained inside the channel of thesupport bracket 12. The enlarged end 54 is unable to pass through theslot 32 due to its size. With the enlarged end 54 restrained in thismanner, the conformable strap 30 is wrappable upon itself, undertension, before securing the insertable end 52 to a section of flexiblematerial 60. Further details of securing the conformable strap 30 in awrapped condition are shown through reference to FIG. 5 wherein one sideof the conformable strap 30, at the insertable end 52, includes an areaof hook-like projections 56 sized to interlock with binding elements 58disposed over the surface of the other side of the conformable strap 30.Areas covered by binding elements 58 include the outer surface of theenlarged end 54 and the flexible material 60 separating the enlarged end54 from the insertable end 52 of the conformable strap 30. Theprojections 56 may be hooks or contacts while the binding elements 58may be loops to provide the well known hook-and-loop type of fasteningstructure.

[0039] With the conformable strap 30 in extended or partially wrappedcondition (see FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b), the projections 56 and bindingelements 58 are held apart by their relative positioning on oppositesides of the conformable strap 30 or the distance of separation betweenthe insertable end 52 and the enlarged end 54. However, when theinsertable end 52 begins to overlap the flexible material 60,intervening between insertable end 52 and enlarged end 54, theprobability increases for interlocking of the projections 56 and bindingelements 58. In a fully overlapped condition as shown in FIG. 5c thewrapped configuration becomes stable by interlocking the projections 56and the binding elements 58 to hold the insertable end 52 against theflexible material 60 of the conformable strap 30. Thus, the conformablestrap 30 may be used to form a wrapped configuration fixed relative tothe bracket 12 using either one or two slots 20,32 disposed in thesidewalls 16,18 of the bracket 12.

[0040]FIG. 6 shows how the binding clamp of the invention, comprisingthe support bracket 12 and conformable strap 30, may provide a securemount to attach an object 62, such as a bicycle to a load carrier 10attached to a transporting vehicle for point-to-point transportation ofthe object 62. As shown, an elongate section 64 of the object, in thiscase the crossbar of the bicycle, fits in the channel of the bracket 12to provide suspension support for the whole object 62. While sufficientto support the weight of the object 62, the bracket 12 is inadequatealone to prevent the elongate section 64 from being jarred from thebracket 12 by vibration during transit. The combination of the supportbracketwith a conformable strap 30 adds the additional security toprevent such a mishap. By applying several wraps of the conformablestrap 30 around an elongate section 64 of a transportable object 62, andfastening the insertable end 52 to the strap 30, the object is held uponthe bracket 12 and the strap 30 combination which acts as a bindingclamp for the object 62.

[0041] The elongate section 64 of the strap 30 may be held under varyinglevels of tension related to the pull force acting, during wrapping, onthe conformable strap 30 due to the anchoring of the enlarged end 54against one or more slots 20,32 in the sidewalls 16,18 of the bracket(see FIG. 4). For additional safety, a second binding clamp 66 mayencircle a second portion of the elongate section 64 of a transportableobject 62. This dual clamping arrangement is particularly effective toincrease the force of stabilization on an object or objects that may bedriven over rough terrain.

[0042] As described previously, the binding clamp of the invention maybe used with elongate sections of articles to be transported, usuallysuspended from a portable frame, typically in the form of a load carrierthat is attached to a transporting vehicle such as a car, van or truck.Such transportable objects include, but are not limited to, bicycles,skis, snow-boards, water skis, surfboards, windsurfing boards and thelike. Some of these objects may be highly polished or decorated withcolorful designs that may be scratched or otherwise damaged as a resultof contact with a rigid support bracket. With the present invention, acushioning or buffering insert fits snugly inside the bracket toessentially eliminate problems of scratching and related damage. FIG. 7provides a perspective view of the cushioning insert 70 having a crosssection closely resembling that of the channel of the support bracket 12depicted in the plan view of FIG. 10. FIG. 7 includes ribs of thecushioning material of the insert 70 to reduce contact and damage withelongate sections of objects placed inside the insert 70. The insert 70includes several insert slots 72 that align with slots 20,32 in asupport bracket 12 so that a conformable strap of flexible material,preferably in the form of webbing, may pass through both the supportbracket 12 and the insert 70 for securing an elongate section 62, suchas the cross bar of a bicycle.

[0043]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing pointed locking studs 82,84integrally formed with the base 86 of the cushioning insert 70. FIG. 9provides a cross sectional view of the cushioning insert taken alonglines 9-9 of FIG. 8. This shows a pointed head 92 including a skirtportion 94 connected to a neck portion 96 which joins the locking stud82 to the base 86 of the cushion insert 70.

[0044] The base 86 of the cushioning insert 70 may abut the floor 14 ofthe support bracket 12 using one or more locking studs 82 integrallymolded with the base 86 of the insert 70. Attachment of the insert, asillustrated in FIG. 11, involves passing the pointed head 92 of alocking stud 82 through a mounting hole 22 in the floor of the bracketuntil the neck 96 of the stud 82 extends at least the thickness of thefloor 14 of the support bracket 12. Between the point 92 and neckportions 96 of the stud is a skirt portion 94 having a width greaterthan the width of the mounting hole 22. During placement of the stud 82in the mounting hole 22, the skirt portion 94 flexes during passagethrough the hole 22 then recovers to overlap the hole 22 on the outersurface of the floor 14 of the bracket 12. This provides a lockingmechanism, which may be of a temporary nature, between the cushionedinsert 70 and the support bracket 12. The alignment of slots 20,32,72allows insertion of a conformable strap, also referred to herein as aflexible strap, in previously discussed wrap-around configurations forsecuring an object to a support bracket 12. Preferably support bracket12 contains an insert 70 to prevent scratching of an object securedthereto using a conformable strap 30 of relatively soft and smoothflexible webbing.

[0045] Since other different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description and accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0046] A conformable strap and several possible accompanying andcomplimentary components have been described herein. The strap alone, aswell as in combinations with other components such as the support trayswill be appreciated by those skilled in the art as being within theintended scope of this invention as claimed below. As previously stated,detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0047] The present invention finds applicability in the load carrierindustries, and especially in the sport rack industry.

1. A binding arrangement for releasably securing an article to aportable frame, said binding arrangement comprising: an elongate supportbracket having an outer surface and proximate and distal ends, saidsupport bracket including a floor and sidewalls extending above saidfloor to form a channel open at said proximate end and said distal endof said structure; said elongate support bracket including alongitudinal cushioning insert having a support surface and a base, saidcushioning insert positioned in said channel to prevent damage to theelongate section when in contact with said support surface duringtransportation of the article; at least one conformable strap releasablyengageable with said elongate support bracket with a portion of saidconformable strap adjacent said outer surface of said elongate supportbracket and adapted to over lay an elongate section placed in saidchannel of said elongate support bracket to secure the elongate sectionto said elongate support bracket during transportation of an articlewhich includes the elongate section; and said conformable strap having afirst side opposite a second side, an insertable end and an enlarged endseparated from said insertable end by a length of flexible material,said conformable strap having a plurality of binding elements on saidfirst side and a plurality of contact elements disposed on said secondside of said strap at said insertable end, said strap passing throughsaid slot such that said insertable end and said length of flexiblematerial lie adjacent said outer surface of said elongate structure withsaid enlarged end restricted in said at least one slot of said elongatesupport bracket, said enlarged end being sized to exceed the dimensionsof said slot.
 2. The binding arrangement as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid elongate support bracket is adapted to capture said cushioninginsert to restrict movement thereof.
 3. The binding arrangement asrecited in claim 1, further comprising at least one rib formed at saidsupport surface of said cushioning insert.
 4. The binding arrangement asrecited in claim 1 wherein said elongate support bracket furtherincludes at least one slot in said sidewalls.
 5. A binding arrangementfor releasably securing an article to a portable frame, said bindingarrangement comprising: an elongate support structure forming an openchannel having inner and outer surfaces and two opposite ends; at leastone through-slot in said elongate structure; a strap comprising firstand second opposite sides and an insertable and an enlarged endseparated by a length of flexible material, said strap having aplurality of binding elements on said first side and a plurality ofcontact elements disposed on said second side of said strap at saidinsertable end, said strap passing through said slot such that saidinsertable end and said length of flexible material lie substantiallyadjacent said outer surface of said elongate structure with saidenlarged end restricted at said through-slot, said enlarged end of saidstrap being sized to exceed the dimensions of said through-slot; acushioning insert having a support surface and a base, said cushioninginsert positioned in said open channel to prevent damage to an articlepositioned therein during transport; and at least one rib formed at saidsupport surface of said cushioning insert.
 6. The binding arrangement asrecited in claim 5 wherein said enlarged end of said strap is formed bya secured-together, folded portion of said strap
 7. The bindingarrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongate supportstructure captures said cushioning insert to restrict movement thereof.8. The binding arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongatesupport structure has a receiving opening and said cushioning insert hasa stud sized for capture and retention in said receiving opening forlimiting movement of said cushioning insert in said channel of saidelongate support structure
 9. The binding arrangement as recited inclaim 8 wherein said receiving opening is formed in a floor of saidelongate support structure for capture of said at least one studattached to said base of said cushioning insert.
 10. A bindingarrangement for releasably securing an article to a portable frame, saidbinding arrangement comprising: an elongate support bracket having anouter surface and proximate and distal ends, said support bracketincluding a floor and sidewalls extending above said floor to form achannel open at said proximate end and said distal end of saidstructure; said elongate support bracket including a longitudinalcushioning insert having a support surface and a base, said cushioninginsert positioned in said channel to prevent damage to the elongatesection when in contact with said support surface during transportationof the article; at least one conformable strap releasably engageablewith said elongate support bracket with a portion of said conformablestrap adjacent said outer surface of said elongate support bracket andadapted to over lay an elongate section placed in said channel of saidelongate support bracket to secure the elongate section to said elongatesupport bracket during transportation of an article which includes theelongate section; and wherein said elongate support bracket has at leastone opening and said cushioning insert includes at least one stud sizedfor capture and retention in said at least one opening of said elongatesupport bracket to limit movement of said cushioning insert in saidchannel of said elongate support bracket.
 11. The binding arrangement asrecited in claim 10 wherein said at least one opening is formed in saidfloor of said elongate support bracket for capture of said at least onestud attached to said base of said cushioning insert.